Spyro the Dragon is a second-generation Aero the Acro-Bat. That doesnâ€™t mean heâ€™s a bad character. The fantastical creature was just one of the second wave of mascots to hit consoles in the later half of the PlayStation generation. Spyroâ€™s… Continue Reading →

That doesnâ€™t mean heâ€™s a bad character. The fantastical creature was just one of the second wave of mascots to hit consoles in the later half of the PlayStation generation. Spyroâ€™s appearance was similar to that of Bubsy the Bobcat and his peers years earlier. They were original cartoonlike creatures, trying to appeal to the younger set.

But unlike the foundering Bubsy and Aero, both of whom were bludgeoned into anonymity with awful sequels, Spyro has had legs and managed to stay aloft in the spotlight. Itâ€™s amazing that the last installment of the Legend of Spyro trilogy coincides with the dragonâ€™s 10th anniversary.

And judging from his latest adventure, the purple dragon has made strides since his last game. In terms of graphics, Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon looks gorgeous and the studio, Etranges Libellules, does a great job using the power behind the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. There’s more detail on the characters and some of the bosses look spectacular.

As far as gameplay goes, Dawn of the Dragon has controls that appear similar to contemporary action titles like Devil May Cry 4. Most of the game is spent duking it out with the foes with a light and hard attack. For once, there is flying, but the flight Spyro does have is limited. He can’t soar up mountains or glide down valleys. Spyro can flap his wings, but he can’t do it very high.

Still, soaring through levels does come into play, and because the title is targeted toward a younger audience, it isn’t very difficult. In fact, the game tries to bring the thrill of epic adventures such as God of War to youths.

In addition, there’s a drop-in two-player mode as Spyro travels with Cynder, the wind dragon. The two have to stick together though and are bonded with an invisible chain that comes into play during certain puzzles where teamwork between the dragons are needed.

The pair both have their own set of magic. Spyro’s attacks are based on elements like fire and ice while Cynder, who has her own dark past, has powers based on fear, shadow, poison and wind. For a video game, Etranges Libellules does draw a star-studded cast that includes Elijah Wood, who plays Spyro, and Christina Ricci, who plays Cynder.

Another thing to note: Spyro and Cynder both have armor sets they can find throughout the wide-open world. It adds a collection mechanic as the two try to fight the Dark Master who is trying literally to split the world in two.

From my first impressions, The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is shaping up to be a great game. It’s easy on the eyes, and the gameplay seems solid. This title could be a fitting end to another Spyro trilogy.

Look for the title to hit PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 later this year. There’s also a Nintendo DS version in the works. The photos of which are below. (It wasn’t playable at the event.)